Texas
College football recruiting: Penn State, Texas A&M, more have major targets up for grabs as June rolls on
The first big weekend of the summertime college football recruiting calendar is down, but there’s still three left to go. We saw a ton of big news materialize following last week’s visits — Georgia landed five-star linebacker Zayden Walker, while Alabama flipped four-star quarterback Keelon Russell from SMU.
What does this weekend have the store? As they say in recruiting: Follow the visits — commitments usually follow. 247Sports experts from coast to coast break down the biggest visits they’re tracking during the June 7-9 recruiting weekend. Do not expect the Class of 2025 recruiting rankings to look the same a few days from now.
Top-10 recruit Elijah Griffin returns to Coral Gables
“Five-star Elijah Griffin, the nation’s top-ranked defensive lineman and No. 8 overall prospect, will take his first official visit to Miami this weekend. Griffin took his first visit to Coral Gables in March. Led by the efforts of defensive line coach and NFL Hall of Fame inductee Jason Taylor, the Hurricanes have been a mainstay contender for Griffin since. Mainstay isn’t synonymous with front-running, however.
Georgia is the clear-cut leader even if Griffin hasn’t said such outright. The ‘Dawgs are not expected to host Griffin on an official visit until the fall — closer to his late-fall or winter decision timeframe. But look for the Peach Stater to take an unofficial visit to Athens (and possibly Clemson) this month or next. USC will host Griffin on an official visit later this month. It won’t be simple to dethrone the ‘Dawgs, but Miami will take its shot this weekend.” — Anna Adams, 247Sports
Can Wolverines get ball rolling?
Michigan convinces 4-star DL to cancel Miami visit
“Michigan was able to get Palatine (Ill.) four-star defensive lineman Jaylen Williams to come off of his planned Miami visit and instead set one with the Wolverines. That is a key development in Michigan’s chances to make good on their Crystal Ball lead for Williams, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound combo lineman who has played inside and outside. The nation’s No. 20 defensive lineman still plans to visit Tennessee and Nebraska officially and is coming off of an unofficial with Texas A&M and may set an official with the Aggies. Miami is probably no longer in the picture.
Williams has long held Michigan in high regard and has a connection with Wolverine commit Nate Marshall, a fellow Illinois defensive lineman. The key here is that he’s quickly built a relationship with new defensive line coach Lou Esposito, who took over later in this recruitment but has steadied the ship from Michigan’s end. Michigan’s class ranked No. 41 a week ago. Because of other schools moving up, Michigan now ranks No. 47. It would love to see a commitment get the ball rolling.” — Allen Trieu, 247Sports
Notre Dame looks to strike gold — again
Fighting Irish covet elite California ‘backer
Could the Notre Dame Fighting Irish land an elite California linebacker for the second cycle in a row? This weekend could be pivotal for Marcus Freeman in that endeavor when Top247 prospect Madden Faraimo makes it to South Bend for his official visit. The physical defender from San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) JSerra Catholic is planning a summertime decision and has trips remaining to Ohio State (June 14) and Texas (June 21) after kicking off the hectic stretch with a stop at Washington (May 31).
Nearby USC is also involved — just like it was with former Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco star Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa — but the Irish got the job done there and could take many of the same angles with the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Faraimo, who ranks No. 12 overall in the state of California for the 2025 class.” — Blair Angulo, 247Sports
Ohio State eyes a building block for No. 2 class
6-foot-7 OT Jackson Lloyd wastes no time returning
“This is the first official visit set for Carmel (Calif.) offensive lineman Jackson Lloyd and it will take him to Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the most recent school to offer the 6-foot-7, 290-pounder, but Chip Kelly was the first coach to do so when he was the head coach at UCLA. Alabama has him set for an official visit next weekend and he’ll wrap with a visit to USC, but the Buckeyes get the first shot, just three weeks after he took an unofficial visit to Columbus in mid-May. The feeling has been that Alabama has been in the lead for a while, at least since Kalen DeBoer took over there; Washington was high on Lloyd’s list a year ago.
Ohio State’s offer to Lloyd in March netted the Buckeyes a quick, unofficial visit and now the first official visit puts them in a good spot to make a late surge for the nation’s No. 146 prospect. The Buckeyes currently have the No. 2 class nationally but that includes just one offensive lineman committed, so Lloyd would be a huge boost.” — Brandon Huffman, 247Sports
Penn State desperate for WR help
Lions try to snare first Class of 2025 wideout
“None of the three receivers Penn State brought in via the portal or high school in the 2023 class are in the program, it lost leading returning receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith to the portal in the spring and the class of 2024 players are not ready to take on a significant role. It is why the Nittany Lions brought in Ohio State transfer Julian Fleming to lead the group this year but a game-breaker is yet to develop on the roster. Which means fans are eager for something good to materialize at the position in 2025.
Penn State has 13 commitments and its class sits No. 10 in the nation, but it is light on receivers. The only receiver committed is Brooklyn Erasmus Hall’s Lyrick Samuel. However, a priority target will be on campus in Norfolk (Va.) Norcom’s Matthew Outten, a four-star prospect who is listed as the No. 5 athlete in the nation but is being recruited as a receiver.
Conventional wisdom says Penn State could go a long way in securing a commitment with the weekend visit with Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Maryland also involved. It is imperative Penn State receivers coach Marques Hagans and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki put on a great show for Outten.” — Brian Dohn, 247Sports
Can Texas A&M close deal with 5-star?
Aggies could punctuate big weekend
“Texas A&M is set for a big weekend with several of the top prospects in the country, but this truly feels like an opportunity to close the deal with five-star Galveston (Texas) Ball linebacker Jonah Williams. The Aggies have been picking up steam in this recruitment throughout the spring, and sources we talk to are most bullish on the Aggies to land the dynamic defender. In fact, I just changed my Crystal Ball prediction for Williams from Oklahoma to Texas A&M.
Baseball could play a huge role in his recruitment as Williams is a legitimate MLB prospect on the diamond, and the Texas A&M baseball program, which hosts a Super Regional this weekend, is one of the best in the country at the moment. Mike Elko and the Aggies currently own the nation’s No. 7 class, and closing the deal on Williams could kick off what Aggie fans hope to be a big summer on the recruiting trail while providing Elko with his second five-star in the 2025 cycle.” — Mike Roach, 247Sports
USC has ground to make up with in-state star
Final chance for Trojans and 4-star LB Noah Mikhail
“This is an extremely important weekend for the USC Trojans when it comes to the recruitment of La Verna (Calif.) Bonita Top 100 linebacker Noah Mikhail. The 6-3, 227-pounder, who ranks as the No. 83 overall player in the class of 2025, is closing in on a June 30 decision. His final three includes USC, Oregon, and Texas A&M. Mikhail heads to College Station next weekend and then wraps things up in Eugene the weekend after that.
Early on, most had Mikhail pegged for USC. Things eventually changed and Oregon gained steam. After visiting this spring, it was Texas A&M that had the momentum. Most see this as a race between the Ducks and Aggies, so the time is now for USC to do all it can to get this one back in their favor. This is his final visit with Lincoln Riley and his staff, so we’ll see if the Trojans can make a convincing pitch. USC has the No. 5 class in the nation and Mikhail would be an excellent addition.” — Tom Loy, 247Sports
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Two roe deer fawns (Capreolus capreolus) lying in grass of meadow. (Photo by: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding residents that baby animals, while cute, are best left alone. In fact, state law prevents human meddling.
The reminder comes just ahead of fawning season — when baby deer start to appear across the Lone Star State.
Texas wildlife reminder
TPWD says they know it’s tempting to want to help baby animals that appear to need assistance. However, they’re reminding Texans, not only is it illegal to touch the animals, but they often don’t need the help.
What they’re saying:
“People want to help, but intervening is often the worst thing you can do,” said Richard Heilbrun, TPWD Division Deputy Director. “Most young animals are not abandoned, their parents are nearby and will return. The best thing you can do is give them space.”
It’s illegal to capture or keep wild animals under Texas law without the proper permits, and attempting to relocate them is also not allowed except under very specific regulations.
Texas animal sightings
White-tailed deer fawning season starts in early to mid-May, the department says, and mother deer — or does — will often leave their babies hidden for hours at a time before they return to feed them. Since fawns are well-camouflaged with their spotted coats in infancy, those “hiding places” are often in plain sight, where they blend into their surroundings. The department wants residents to know that those fawns aren’t abandoned; rather, their mothers are most often out finding food.
Baby birds are also often mistaken as abandoned and in need of rescue. Species like doves, blue jays and mockingbirds will spend a lot of time on the ground as babies while they learn to fly, and it’s common to think they need help getting back to safety. In actuality, the department says, their parents are still nearby keeping watch, and humans’ attempts to assist can be more of a hindrance.
(GERMANY OUT) young blackbirds in the bird’s nest (Photo by Hohlfeld/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Turtles are often seen in Texas this time of year as well, particularly, the department notes, while trying to cross roadways. They provided information about helping the reptiles get out of the path of cars, which you can access here, but they’re also reminding residents that wild animals cannot be captured as pets.
Particularly in South Texas at this time of year, alligator sightings are also on the rise. The warmer months ahead of the summer are the reptiles’ mating period, and it becomes more common to see them crossing roads or sunning near public waterways. Alligators should be avoided, and pets and children should be kept nearby when in common sighting areas.
How to help wild animals
What you can do:
If you find an animal in the wild that truly seems to need immediate help, the first step should always be to contact the wildlife department.
Reach out to a TPWD wildlife rehabilitator if you find yourself in that position, and never start by trying to handle or relocate an animal on your own.
Learn more about what to do upon encountering orphaned or injured wildlife on the TPWD Wildlife Division website. Tips from biologists regarding fawns and baby birds are available on the TPWD YouTube channel.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
AUSTIN, Texas — Grief and anger from last year’s deadly July 4 flooding at Camp Mystic filled the Texas Capitol on Tuesday night, as parents urged state lawmakers to keep the camp from reopening and to deny renewal of its license.
The parents spoke during the second day of an investigative hearing before the General Investigative Committee, offering their perspectives on the future of Camp Mystic. The Eastland family, which runs the camp, was seated nearby.
“A daycare, with 27 dead children, and this evidence already on record, would have already been closed,” said Bolton Walters, a parent of a victim camper.
CiCi Steward, the mother of a missing Camp Mystic camper, told lawmakers, “No camp will be safe for any child as long as the Eastlands are associated with it.”
Parents recounted the trauma of the flooding that killed 27 campers and counselors. Malorie Lytal, a parent of a victim camper, described what happened to her child: “As her cabin filled with flood waters, she was left to fend for herself, and washed miles downriver to die the most horrific, gruesome death.”
RELATED| Lawmakers press Camp Mystic directors on attempt to reopen Cypress Lake location in May
KEYE DVR_WINDOW
Steward called on the state not to renew the camp’s license.
“Camp Mystics’ license should not be renewed. If a child dies in a Texas camp this summer, it will not be because we lack the information to prevent it,” she said. “Those lies of safety, preparedness, and readiness cause the greatest mass casualty event involving children in the history of the state.”
Camp Mystic is hoping to reopen on May 30 at their Cypress location.
Last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services found 22 deficiencies in the emergency plan camp leaders submitted. The findings included gaps in the camp’s flood evacuation procedures and failure to submit a required floodplain map to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said camps need emergency plans that are formalized and coordinated with local authorities.
“It’s got to be written. It’s got to be trained. It’s got to be exercised. It’s got to be funded. It’s not a one-and-done. It’s not a destination, it’s a journey,” Kidd said.
Even with plans to reopen at the Cypress location, parents remained skeptical that the camp could operate safely under its current leadership. Julie Marshall, a parent of a victim camper, said, “The Eastland’s prayers didn’t save the girls that night. I worry the Eastland’s prayers going forward are not an appropriate safety plan.”
At the end of the hearing, Texas DSHS said they are actively implementing legislation for youth camp safety, and will not be approving any camp’s licenses if they do not have an acceptable emergency management plan.
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